Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Shinn.
Hi Cindy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
During the pandemic summer of 2020 when everything was shut down in Houston, I ordered a margarita machine for my home and enjoyed frozen cocktails in my pool for the weekend. Floating in my pool, I thought “I can do this business”! I had been looking for something to supplement my full-time job and possibly replace it down the road. With my love of frozen margaritas, my background as a FedEx manager, and my desire to provide excellent customer service, this seemed like a natural fit. I proposed the idea to my friend of over 25 years Bette Channell who had just retired as an educator and was also looking for something to supplement her retirement. The idea of serving our community that we both love and have lived in for over 30 years was an exciting idea. We started the business in July of 2021 and have really enjoyed bringing our community and neighbors together as friends and family gather in backyards, wedding venues, birthday parties, happy hours and any other excuse they could think of to drink MARGARITAS. Our clients are now friends and repeat customers are steadily growing our business. We love providing a first-class experience from the moment our clients contact us to the end of their event! Each and every event is special and we feel honored to be a part of making so many memories by servicing the Houston Heights area!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first step we had to figure out was how we were going to deliver the machines to our clients. My business partner and I had to purchase a truck. We started out with one truck and within 6 months we purchased a second truck. The machines are 150- 200 lbs each and moving them around to people’s homes and businesses took some getting used to. Laughing at ourselves through this process helped us figure out the tools we needed to manage the machines easier.
When we first began, we were willing to take orders all over the greater Houston area. We soon learned that this was not a cost-effective use of our time. We slowly built a base in a closer radius that has improved our profitability and time management. Additionally, in a partnership, even though we were long-time friends, there are always challenges and we were not immune to those. We have had struggles in regard to expectations and distribution of the workload but we have committed to having open & transparent conversations whenever issues arise. The support of our spouses helped us in navigating these conversations when we are too close to the situation to recognize when something needs to be dealt with. “Friendship & relationships first” is what keeps us moving forward together as a team.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a Frozen Margarita Machine Delivery Service that strives to provide an excellent experience from start to finish. We provide an award-winning quality mix with several flavors to choose from. Flavors mix well with Tequila, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Gin, and Wine making any and every event a “hit”.
We are very proud to be a woman-owned and operated company. With over 80 5-Star reviews in our short time in business, we believe in making a personal connection with every client as we strive to make each interaction fun, easy and important.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Patience – it takes time to build a healthy, stable, and profitable business. We strive to exceed our customer’s expectations but if we make a mistake, we own it and make it right. We have learned to ask questions so we are sure to understand what the clients’ needs and expectations are. Our clients trust us with their special moments and memories and we want to make sure they know they have made the right choice.
Pricing:
- Single Machine Rental – $155 for the day
- Double Machine Rental – $205 for the day
- All machines come with choice of mix, cups & straws
- Yard Games $35
Contact Info:
- Website: heightsmargaritas.com
